CALOCHILUS (Beautiful Lip or Beard orchids)

Calochilus is widespread throughout Australia with some ten species named. Three of these are present in the south west of WA. and two others are found in the Kimberley in the north of the state. The striking bearded labellum is the focal point shown in the photos. C. robertsonii is common in the lower southwest high rainfall areas. Its preferred environment is to grow in sandy peat swap perimeters and in winter wet dried out peat swamps where it can flower with population explosions after previous summer bush fire. There is an inland variant recorded from York to Narrogin and south to Highbury. C. campestris was earlier not thought to be in WA but specimens have been found near Albany in the South Stirling Range and further east to Hopetoun. Note the sham eyes in the last two. C. holtyzei and C. aeruleus from the Kimberley region have been researched by Kingsley Dickson via the Kings Park Research Centre. This area is difficult to access and there is a likelihood of more new species being found.

Ron Heberle. April 2003

CORYBAS (Helmet orchids)

There are over 20 species of helmet orchids in Australia, including at least 5 species in West Australia (Hoffman and Brown, 1998). The genera has over 100 species, including some in China, Malaysia, Indonesia and New Zealand. In West Australia, helmet orchids are mainly confined to moist, shaded areas, near the coast.

CRYPTOSTYLIS (Slipper orchids)

Cryptostylis is another of the hardy summer flowering orchids. The genus is present in Malaysia, New Guinea, Formosa, the Philippines, New Caledonia and numerous Polynesian Islands. Five species are present in Australia with just one in Western Australia (Cryptostylis ovata). Its late flowering, the handsome oval leaf and its persistent habit of surviving from year to year easily recognize the species. The flower has rudimentary segments with the exception of the large resupinate labellum with its sexual parts concealed underneath. This pseudo-copulating orchid demonstrates the one to one pollination or plant association where the same type of wasp, Australia wide, fertilizes the orchid. Ron Heberle April 2003

CYANICULA (Blue orchids)

According to Hoffman and Brown (1998), there are at least 10 species of Cyanicula, all occurring in West Australia, with two extending to the eastern States. Most were previously classified as Caladenia. The name refers to the blue flowers characteristic of this genus. However, one species has yellow flowers.

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CYRTOSTYLIS (Mosquito orchids)

There are just three named species in the south west of WA. These have been proved to be present as far north as Kalbarri and as far east as Israelite Bay. However the major distribution is in the high rainfall areas of the extreme southwest where these colony forming species can be abundant. The three species are C. heugelii, C. robusta and C. tennuissima. There is also an unnamed species from the Tone River.

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